The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-04-14
Very Old.


A press dispatch from Philadelphia,
giving as authority the labors of repor-
ter on the Times Of that city, gives
what purports to be ''some very inter
esting information about big life insu-
ranles and those who hold them"
Among these are mentioned Mr.. john
B. Stetson, S720,0OO; F. B. Gowen, 1925
900; John Wanamaker, $3.50, 0OO; B. Fl.
Shoemaker and Wharton Barker, $780,
900: Geo. Ii. Stuart, 100000; L. c.
Cassidy, J. r. Dobbins, and George
Harding, 500, 600. Those are Philade,-
toned H. B. Clafin, $12 eco; Henry
Ward Beecher, 500. 900, Chas. A. Dana,
| 1920, 900; Chas. Pratt and Henry B. hyde,
Sl65O0) John Glib $4,000, Alexander
Barrett and t. B. Roberts, 5000, GO;
| Cyrus w. Field, $40 COO; F. w. Devoe,
$3.50, 90; Pierre Lorillard, $685., 200; Jay
Gould, 100000; w. II. Vanderbilt,
1920, 600.
Perhaps this list is in part ina ginatiye;
yet many of the names have been repeat
! edly brought into type in this way; and,
as to some of the prominent men named,
it is unGou btedly true that at least they
carry large insurance. The argument
from example is just as good as it is in
/ tended to be. It does not mean that tie
man with 5000 a year ought to have
! $500 coo insurance because some million
aire carries that amount, nor that he
ought to take out larger policy than be
has reasonable expectation Of pay ing tor
1t means that The men whose Judgment
Is best attested by the results it has
achieved for them, believe that the life
insurance system is safe, do not believe
any Of the stale stories about misman-
agement Of the companies, &C., and do
not believe life insurance cost more than
1t returns. Some years ago, within the
! personal knowledge OF the writer hereof,
| one insurance man mentioned to another
the name OF Albert Weber, then a WELL
Known piano max er, as man who was
not insured, ard was therefore, posi-
BILE candidate. Whereupon the other
replied: 'Albert Weber can't be insur-
ed The meaning of course was that
Mr.. Weber could not be persuaded to
be; that is, lie aCOmtd not be insured. He
dlei Lot very long after. The son, OF
the same name, proved not his equal
IN business ability, and it is evident
that NJ. Webers estate would have been
prOtittd had he had less firmly rooted
objection to life insurance.
This is only very ordinary example
of the kind, hard y to be named by the
side Of the many painful cases of wealth
exchanged for poverty, and luxury for
prvaton. because OF "n over cont Ienc e
in the ty Of individual prosperity
The wings of riches the changetuiness
OF material conditions, the prudence Of
having something put beyond contin-
gency, AID the TACT that nothing is quite
safe from reverSes which does not stand
upon 0r1'0ge perity-these are the
pIalne>t lessons Of experience.
The mora is Old and hUmely. To be-
come Insured is not 10 become rich
tNcepc in highly fguIatiYe sense.
fcr the present rich, it is to secure
fortune against all dangers; for
the mass OF mankind, it is to put up a
barrier against positive want. 1t is a
saving process practicable for all and,
practicaIly-that is, in the insurance
sense completed a. soon as ii is begun.
No other process has ever been devised
which will do as mucb; and none can be.
In a country where Nature is not SO
Find and human wants 50 few. that
existence may be leness, there can be
nothing else to take its place. It costs.
undoubtedly; that is the worst of il; but
al alI4irement costs. 1t is only air
castles, and Expectations and prom
i>eS, that are cheap.
Ii you 90 not already carry a policy on
your life, cal on j. r. Young and tak-
one cut. 1t is a duty you owe to both
yourself and your family.